He added that rocky mountain spotted fever is more common than Lyme disease in the midstate.

"The best thing to do is if you've been bitten by a tick and you start to experience these symptoms, if a rash starts to form, if you get ... feverish after you get bitten by a tick, is to contact your health care provider immediately," he said.

Ways to prevent a tick from biting include using repellent that has DEET, wearing shirts with long sleeves, and checking all parts of the body when getting back from a day outdoors.

"These symptoms can become more serious over time and you want to make sure you aren't missing work, you are not missing school, fevers can knock you out," Hoakson said.

Hoakson added that even though Lyme disease is less common in Middle Georgia, it's still important to stay protected when traveling to areas where there are more reported cases.